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Elizabeth Frank
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Roughing It Hardcover – April 30, 2009

by Mark Twain (Author)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 1,094 ratings
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This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts - the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally important and have elected to bring the book back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.
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  1. Print length
    696 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Bibliolife
  4. Publication date
    April 30, 2009
  5. Dimensions
    6.14 x 1.5 x 9.21 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    055912516X
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0559125164
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bibliolife (April 30, 2009)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 696 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 055912516X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0559125164
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.52 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.14 x 1.5 x 9.21 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 1,094 ratings

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Elizabeth Frank

Elizabeth Frank

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
1,094 global ratings
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1 Star
Bad
This book reads like it was translated back from another language. Unreadable. I subscribe to Kindle Unlimited so I didn't pay anything for it--thank goodness. This should be withdrawn from the Amazon Library.
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Top reviews from the United States

Linore Rose Burkard
5.0 out of 5 stars Rough, To Be Sure--But Great Fun
Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2016
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Go with Twain on a jostling, bouncy ride of a book that almost defies description. Yes, it's an account of some of his early years as he seeks fortune and adventure in the gold mines of Nevada, but it's the author's asides and cameos and histories of people and places he encounters--or merely hears tell of-- that really lift the book into a jumbled mosaic of much more than a personal narrative of the usual sort. There is nothing usual about Twain's inimitable style. Whether it's Virginia City, Nevada or the Islands of Hawaii, or old San Francisco, Twain describes all with rich, if not equal, attention to detail. He either remembers conversations with remarkable alacrity or he invents them; either way, they are entertaining--character sketches in brief. Sometimes brilliant, sometimes spotty, this book is highly recommended for its history (not what you'll learn in history class!) American lore, and uniquely Twain-style humor; you'll also get details of Twain's early writing career, how he got started ("he got scared into it," he tells us).
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Frank Donnelly
4.0 out of 5 stars A Very Humorous But Sometimes Insensitive Semi Autobiographical Adventure
Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2019
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"Roughing It" is a semi autobiographical story by Mark Twain about his travels in the American West and also the Hawaiian Islands in the nineteenth century. It is written in conversational language and is very readable. There is a lot of humor, including ironic humor, but also a certain amount of insensitivity directed towards people different than Mark Twain. Although I enjoyed the book very much, I also spent a certain amount of time cringing.

The story begins with Mark Twain and his brother headed west by stage coach from Missouri to Nevada. I enjoyed the travel aspect of the story. I took notes and when I drove to the west coast, I actually followed the path of travel, visiting towns and locations described. I loved that experience.

Mark Twain spends a lot of time describing mining. I actually learned quite a bit about silver mining during the nineteenth century. Additionally, I have recollections about Mark Twain and a story about a horse referred to as a "Mexican Plug". That story is in this book and is hilarious. Mark Twain was also in San Francisco during an earthquake. His report of this is very interesting.

Mark Twain also travels to Hawaii. Again there is some ethnic references that I find distasteful. There is also some skewering of American Influences that I happened to find quite humorous. Additionally there is some descriptions of scenery in Hawaii that I felt was really excellent. Mark Twain really painted with words. I really slowed down my reading here and slowly took in those descriptions. I found much of those parts of this book quite elegant.

In summary, I really liked this book. Mark Twain is a quite gifted writer. I am not in favor of censorship. I have concluded that some of the writing of Mark Twain is insensitive and unfortunate. Mark Twain and many other authors of the past, including Shakespeare, wrote things that really cause me to shudder. I intend to keep reading all of these works, as written, and simply use those moments for introspection, learning, and self improvement. My children are now grown and I have grandchildren. As a parent I would not permit my children to read books such as "Roughing It" without serious and careful parental guidance. Thank You...
13 people found this helpful
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jdf
5.0 out of 5 stars 19th Century From A Real 19th Century Writer
Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2017
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Even though many of the facts are distorted, great insight is provided about the west during the war and especially about mining. One never knows for sure if and when Twain wanders from the truth. Even though he has some first knowledge of Mormons, his opinion is twisted by reliance on second hand information. Twain is a great story teller and amazingly literate and well traveled for someone from 19th century Missouri. He also appears to have a religious background and a kind heart. What he did later in life for the wife of U S Grant is proof of that.
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Hopefull
3.0 out of 5 stars Westward in 1850's
Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2015
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This book is entertaining enough though a bit dragged out in some sections, and down right boring in others. Yet there are some sections that I found very enjoyable, among them Mr. Twain's description of a Jack Rabbit, of his travels by Stagecoach westward to Nevada, his way though Mormon country, his visit to Mono Lake, California and general description of the mining scene in and around Carson City, Nevada. His trip description to the Hawaiian Islands in the 1850s', when natives ran around without clothes, is likely one you won't find else where.
After a while I found myself starting to speak in tonations like Twain's does in the book, with nearly always a dry sense of humor.
Roughing it is a book, free for the taking, to enjoy, then lay down for awhile, and enjoy some more another time.
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D. H. Nathan
5.0 out of 5 stars Along comes "Roughing It" very funny! Now I get Mark Twain the American Humorist
Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2016
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The only Mark Twain I ever read was Huck Finn and Ton Sawyer, there was humor there but it was subtle and vague to a 9 year old boy. Along comes "Roughing It" very funny! Now I get Mark Twain the American Humorist! Very good! The Kindle Edition however SUCKS an there are NO illustrations and with every new chapter you get a page that looks like you started over to the beginning in the book, very confusing.
6 people found this helpful
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Mike B-Ski
4.0 out of 5 stars Humerous account of the Old West
Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2019
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Most any thing by Mark Twain is funny and well written, and "Roughing It" is no exception. It is funny, insightful, and a first-hand account of the old West including the stage coach ride to get there, the Mormons of Utah, and the greater part of the book was about the silver strikes in and around Nevada and California. I gave it only four stars because it got a bit heavy toward the end of the book when the subject matter turned from Silver mining, Virginia City, desperadoes, quirky characters, and the wild flavor of the West - to the South Sea Islands, which was well done but not my cup of tea, or should I say my cup of poi.
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Top reviews from other countries

Amazon Customer
1.0 out of 5 stars Unreadable Type
Reviewed in Canada on October 22, 2020
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This book is indeed a wasted run of printing. There is no publisher and it's as it was printed by a child with a photocopier. Do not waste your money and buy a legitimate copy of this book.
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Artistjohn
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a great example of a less inhibited time in our recent ...
Reviewed in Canada on January 20, 2017
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This is a great example of a less inhibited time in our recent history..He is not afraid to be politically incorrect in this..It's a compilation of his era topics that he feels it necessary to comment on..I enjoyed it and it is funny..in places.. but sometimes he's a bit high handed..
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Rajiv Shukla
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in India on September 28, 2016
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Engaging reading
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Christiane
4.0 out of 5 stars Funny and informative
Reviewed in Germany on January 10, 2015
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These are Mark Twain’s recollections of his three-months pleasure trip to the Nevada silver mines which actually turned into a seven-year stay.

Twelve years before the completion of the railroad he and his brother Orion did the trip in stage-coaches and with his keen powers of observation, humour, knowledge and brilliant prose he brings this bygone era back to life.

Being incurably restless, during those years Mark Twain held a variety of jobs, lived in lots of different places and under very different conditions (on a shoestring on the silver fields and in relative luxury in Hawaii), had hair-raising adventures and met all kinds of wild, weird and picturesque characters.

This book is more consistent than for example „Life on the Mississippi“ and Twain doesn’t go off on a tangent anywhere near as much. Admittedly some of the anecdotes are too long-drawn out, sometimes there is more information on a topic than one would have wanted but I still consider this one of his best and most amusing books.
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Michael
5.0 out of 5 stars My favourite book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 10, 2014
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I was so pleased when I found this on the Kindle. I am familiar with a number of Twain's works but I had never heard of 'Roughing It'. I read the wikipedia entry about it and instantly thought it would be an interesting read. It certainly was that. A brilliant work that gives real insight into the world of the American west. Some of Twain's anecdotes and stories are the best I have ever read and this book is just crammed full of them.
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